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Mandolin tablatures for Big Rock Candy Mountain

Norman Blake

Recomended level: Beginner

Tags: #norman blake, #o brother where art thou, #john hartford, #kenny baker, #bill monroe, #shuffle, #bluegrass

This old song, written by Harry McClintock, has its instrumental version recorded by Norman Blake. It was featured on the popular O Brother Where Art Thou movie soundtrack. It is a nice mid-tempo song with an interesting melody, playful chord progression and unusual number of bars. Keep in mind that the shuffle rhythm (dom di-di, dom di-di) is one of the key elements of many tunes - including this one. You can help keep the groove going in your soloing by putting dynamic emphasis on the off-beats (dom DI-di, dom DI-di - i.e. where you normally play chops when playing rhythm). The arrangement of the advanced solo uses a lot of 16th-notes with double stops. For the most part, it stays very close to the melody. However, there are a few spots that help to spice the solo up - like the slides in bars 3, 7, and 9. The triplet in bar 9 is played by two subsequent hammer-ons. Be careful not to speed up here. Use the metronome of the Tunefox player while practicing along at a slow tempo.

  • Mandolin Big Rock Candy Mountain Beginner

    Beginner

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      C
    • Tempo
      80 bpm
    • Tuning
      GDAE

    Once you learn the basic melody, try switching the licks to stimulate your improvising skills. You can also try finding the melody an octave higher which can make the solo sound more...

    Mandolin Big Rock Candy Mountain Beginner
    Learn
  • Mandolin Big Rock Candy Mountain Intermediate

    Intermediate

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      C
    • Tempo
      90 bpm
    • Tuning
      GDAE

    Compare this arrangement with the beginner version and search for the general techniques that can add the bluegrass flavour to your playing, i.e. using shuffle rhythm (e.g. bar 2), d...

    Mandolin Big Rock Candy Mountain Intermediate
    Learn
  • Mandolin Big Rock Candy Mountain Advanced

    Advanced

    • Difficulty
    • Key
      C
    • Tempo
      90 bpm
    • Tuning
      GDAE

    The arrangement is mostly based on 16th-notes in double stops that holds the melody. However, there are a few spots that spice the solo up - like the slides in bars 3, 7, and 9 and t...

    Mandolin Big Rock Candy Mountain Advanced
    Learn



Practicing Tips

Learning Overview: 'Big Rock Candy Mountain' offers a powerful educational experience for musicians keen to learn the nuances of bluegrass mandolin. Presented in beginner, intermediate, and advanced tabs, the iconic works of Norman Blake, 'O Brother Where Art Thou', John Hartford, Kenny Baker, Bill Monroe and the unique shuffles of bluegrass are explored in depth. The use of the progressive Tunefox platform ensures a comprehensive learning experience, augmenting your musical growth and enhancing your performance skills.


Tools for Creative learning: Tunefox's innovative features - The Lick Switcher and Arrange Slider are central to the creative learning process. The Lick Switcher adds an element of customization to your musical journey, enabling the integration of new licks to diversify your understanding of the song. This feature introduces variations and encourages the arrangement of the melody in different ways, fostering a unique interpretation of the tune. The Arrange slider is another avant-garde tool, designed to tailor the difficulty level and tone of the song to your learning pace and skill level.


Practicing Tools: Tunefox equips you with a set of robust practicing tools, designed to streamline your learning process. By adjusting the tempo, you can control the pace of the song to suit your comfort. Engage with the backing tracks to enrich your performance, using the Speed Up Function to steadily enhance your tempo. The Hide notes feature facilitates learning by ear, encouraging your aural skills. Each tool is designed to optimise your practice sessions, making them more productive and enjoyable.


General Practice Tips: Above all, remember to start slow. Patience is key in learning any musical instrument, and rushing through the process won't do any good. Begin by slowly understanding and practicing the basics, gradually moving towards the more complex aspects of the song. Take your time to get accustomed to the tools and features, using them to their maximum potential to enrich your learning experience. Always maintain a regular practice routine for consistent progress.